First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
Machines can already do 50% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 72%. Most of the work is changing now.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 50% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 23% of them.
- Forecast: machines can already do half of its tasks, and 72% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 214,390 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $87,520 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 81% for contact with people.
- Also called: Customer Service Department Supervisor, Customer Service Supervisor, Driver Sales Supervisor, Information Center Supervisor.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitor sales staff performance to ensure that goals are met | 14% | 85% to 97% | |
| Direct and supervise employees engaged in sales, inventory-taking, reconciling cash receipts, or performing specific services | 14% | 25% to 55% | |
| Provide staff with assistance in performing difficult or complicated duties | 11% | 30% to 54% | |
| Listen to and resolve customer complaints regarding services, products, or personnel | 9% | 85% to 87% | |
| Keep records pertaining to purchases, sales, and requisitions | 7% | 70% to 95% | |
| Hire, train, and evaluate personnel | 7% | 25% to 50% | |
| Attend company meetings to exchange product information and coordinate work activities with other departments | 7% | 30% to 54% | |
| Confer with company officials to develop methods and procedures to increase sales, expand markets, and promote business | 6% | 74% to 94% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills first-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Chief Revenue Officers56% of tasks by 2035
- Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling60% of tasks by 2035 · US median $79,520
- Fundraisers54% of tasks by 2035 · US median $72,550
- Chief Customer Officers67% of tasks by 2035
What should you do about it?
Open this job in the Workforce Starburst to see it for your country, then use these to act on it.
Watch This Job
Get told when the outlook for this job changes.
Free planSkills to learn next
The skills that make this job, or the next one, last longer.
In the StarburstCheck your readiness
Ten quick questions on how ready you are.
FreeAsk Vantage
Ask what this job means for you and get a sourced answer.
Free to askFutures Academy courses
Courses matched to your gaps.
Coming soonPay trend
Where pay for this job is heading.
Coming soonTeam plan
Every role in your team, side by side, with a plan for each.
Pro and CorporateShared workspace
Work through it with your team, with notes and decisions kept.
Pro and Corporate
Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers?
Machines can already do half of its tasks. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of first-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers?
Machines can do 50% of the tasks of first-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers today and 72% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 41-1012.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/first-line-supervisors-of-non-retail-sales-workers/